After 25 years, hubby and I are in our "second semester" of not having any of the 4 kids in elementary or high school. Ergo, it's not necessary to awaken at 6:15 am any more. Nice. Since it's not necessary to head to bed by any specific time, I tend to stay up late: midnight ... 1:00 am ... sometimes 2:00, either watching TV, reading, or playing Word Chums or zipping around on the iPad.

The next morning, of course, I feel like "sleeping in" ... and I'm not talking ridiculously late: 8:00, maybe 8:30, rarely 9. Except I badger myself to get up. I tell myself it's not okay. But why??? Who really cares (except me) that I'm still in bed? Do you care? Does my mother? My husband? Neighbors? Kids? Nope. No one cares. I make a much bigger deal over what time to get up than it needs to be.

After all, I have a zero commute to work since my office is in our home. Get up, dress in workout clothes for later, brew coffee, eat breakfast and pad in slippered feet across the foyer into my office.

There.

In general, it seems we do poorly with giving ourselves permission to do something that's harmless. We deem it "not okay" and continually badger ourselves.

Could we relax "The General" in us long enough to do what we want permissively? Make it okay and take off the pressure? Would anyone else care if you did it, or are YOU in your own way with the SHOULDing?

"A scientific study shows that if you stand like this in superhero pose for 5 minutes before a job interview, big presentation or hard task, you will not only feel more confident, you will perform measurably better.

We're superheroes. Hold up your head and enter the arena and face the enemy. Fight until you can't fight any more.

Never let go. Never give up. Never run. Never surrender. Fight the good fight. You fight. Even when it seems inevitable."